NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships?

[InquilineKea]

So I hear that they just got announced this year. Does anyone know how the selection criteria differ from that of NSF? And how other factors differ from that of NSF as well?

[InquilineKea]

Does anyone know if it's even possible for grad students to apply directly?

 

bump...

[TakeruK]

I got an email from my university last November regarding this fellowship. The relevant parts said: 
 

 

 

The deadline for NEW applications is February 1, 2013, and the deadline for RENEWAL applications is March 15, 2013.

The NESSF call for proposals and submission instructions are located at the NESSF 13 solicitation index page at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ - click on "Solicitations" then click on "Open Solicitations" then select the "NESSF 13" announcement. Also refer to “Proposal Submission Instructions” and “Frequently Asked Questions” listed under “Other Documents” on the NESSF 13 solicitation index page.

All proposals must be submitted in electronic format only through the NASANSPIRES system. The advisor has an active role in the submission of the fellowship proposal. To use the NSPIRES system, the advisor, the student, and the university must all register. Extended instructions on how to submit an electronic proposal package are posted on the NESSF 13 solicitation index page listed above. You can register in NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/.

 

From that wording and the information on the linked pages, it does seem that you have to apply "directly" (which I interpret to mean applying directly to the funding agency, not through your University). However, it sounds like you cannot apply "independently", that is, it sounds like your advisor/university will have to fill out parts of your application too and their participation is required to finally submit your proposal.

 

This fellowship is interesting to me since I think it is the only fellowship where non-Americans are eligible! But I'm going to wait until I have a fully defined thesis project before I apply. Any other useful information shared by anyone here would be really helpful though